Scientists 'could reverse ageing'

A chemical has successfully reversed the ageing process in mice in a study carried out in the US.

NAD is a chemical that is present in cells in the body, but levels of it drop naturally over time, which decreases energy production and leads to ageing.

In the experiment, a chemical was given to two-year-old mice, that their bodies could naturally convert into NAD, the BBC reported.

Results showed that following administration of the chemical, the muscles of the mice were similar to those of when they were six months old, reversing the ageing process by 18 months.

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Muscle wastage, insulin resistance, mitochondrial function and inflammation of muscles all improved following just one week of the medication. However, there were no significant results on the improvement of muscle strength.

Clinical trials for humans are being planned for 2015. Scientists in the US have said that the treatment could potentially see results that would be the equivalent of a 60-year-old's muscles being reversed into those of a 20-year-old.

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